Union for Change to formalize as political party

The first petition contesting the election is expected to be filed on Monday.

One of the petition contesting the results of the 2015 Presidential election is finally ready and will be filed with the Constitutional Court on Monday, the Union for Change movement announced yesterday on social media.

This petition is one of three the leaders of the movement plan to file.

The leaders of the Union for Change have also announced that the movement will formalise as a political party “which will be an umbrella organisation” with a view to contest the forthcoming National Assembly elections.

To this end, a competition will be launched for a logo and slogan for the Union for Change (Linyon Sanzman) in which the public will be invited to participate. Details of this competition are not yet public.

In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday evening, the leader of the Seychelles National Party (SNP) Wavel Ramkalawan expressed his belief that the case will actually be heard next week, shortly after the petition is filed.

Mr Ramkalawan added that “the legal team is more or less ready with at least two petitions while for the third one, we are in the process of collecting affidavits from individuals regarding the irregularities”, explaining that “a lot of research has to be done”.

He also said that the party will keep its supporters informed on the progress and will also be calling on them to attend the court case to show solidarity. He ended his post by stating that “we will always stand by your side and keep the flame burning”.

SNP together with two opposition parties, namely Lalyans Seselwa and Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy (SPSD), along with independent candidate, Philippe Boullé joined together under the banner Union for Change to contest the Presidential runoff, after none of the six candidates received the percentage required to be elected in the first round of the 2015 Presidential election.

The opposition’s petitions include an Election petition asking for a national recount of the votes, questions the legality of the manner in which the results were announced and finally seeks to demonstrate the irregularities which took place before and during polling.

If the elections are declared null and void, it would pave the way for either a third round or fresh Presidential elections.